KTA looking to place a new market at Auli`i Dr.

[JerryCarr]

No offense to the Keaau boosters posting here, but for many, if not most, people living in lower Puna, driving to Keaau is only marginally better than driving on into Hilo. You're already 90% of the way there, and there are multiple shopping options by driving that last five miles. The Village Center concept as defined in the Puna CDP is the way to go, IMHO. The proposal for Aulii on 130 sounds like a bad precedent.

[Nalu]

There are two KTA's in town already that are closer to each other than they would be to the one in Keaau, so not sure on that. As much as I would love to have it in Keaau, I do agree that Pahoa would be better served. I think Foodland may be marginally better than Malama market.

[jerry]

Puna CDP question--where along 130 between Shower and Pahoa are village centers proposed?



Jerry
Art and Orchids B&B
http://www.artandorchids.com

[Rob Tucker]

There are no Village Centers proposed on Hwy. 130 except the perhaps as applies to Makuu Homestead and Emily Naeole's success in having Makuu Farmer's Market designated a Village Center. It is Hawaiian Homelands.

Pahoa Village is existing. Keaau is existing.

There are village centers intended off Hwy 130 within HPP and Orchidland and perhaps Ainaloa.

[Chuysmom]

To me, it seems like the people that shop at downtown KTA are more local Hilo people. The KTA on the highway gets heavier traffic from Mountain View/Pahoa/Keaau - I think. Don't quote me.

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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Originally posted by JerryCarr

No offense to the Keaau boosters posting here, but for many, if not most, people living in lower Puna, driving to Keaau is only marginally better than driving on into Hilo. You're already 90% of the way there, and there are multiple shopping options by driving that last five miles. The Village Center concept as defined in the Puna CDP is the way to go, IMHO. The proposal for Aulii on 130 sounds like a bad precedent.

---

Pahoa is fine too just not on Hwy 130 mid span.

[macuu222]

Well I guess I'm in the minority here. I live in HPP and I would love to have a supermarket that's within walking distance (or at least bicycle distance). I'm all for it!!!!

[DanielP]

I can understand KTA wanting to build mid 130. It's smart business. If they build in Pahoa, they miss all the Orchidland and HPP customers. If they build in Keaau, they are too far from lower Puna to make much difference for a Hilo drive.
If we want good retail service we better think like a businessman. Look at the future population concentrations and work from that. If you lived in "X" spot, where would you likely shop? I happen to think that a good location would be mid 130. A "superstore" is a huge investment and if they can't get a smart location, businesswise, they won't build it.

Dan

[Rob Tucker]

That logic is real business logic and can and will apply to every intersection on Highway 130. That is where commercial sprawl comes from. Every business wants high traffic potential.

Does the community want Hwy. 130 to turn into Kanoeluha? The broad input from the community surveys which led to the PCDP was to keep Puna a rural agricultural district. If all you see in future years along our highway are stores, fast food restaurants and strip malls what will Puna become? It is a question.

So does the business go to the traffic or does the traffic go to the business location? It is a choice.

Costco in Kona is in an established commercial zone. Not on the highway. I don't think they lose a nickel by being where they are. People know where they are and they go there.

[leilaniguy]

The logic of "high visibility" for stores works most everywhere, not so much for lower Puna. We don't get a lot of highway traffic being that we live on a dead-end. The few day-trip tourists we get are most likely to do their shopping at 7-11 or a gas station, not at a supermarket. Why not develop one or more of those 20 acre parcels in HPP. 11,000 people and just one (semi-legal?) grocery in somebody's garage. Where else but Puna would this be the case. I'd love to have even just a Kwikimart here in Leilani to save on gas when all I want is something like a quart of milk. I think corner stores would prove popular in many of the subdivisions.